Microsoft Relaunches Bing It On Challenge

According to Microsoft, Google isn't the only search engine in town. That being said, Microsoft is designing another advertising plan in an effort to gain market share in the competitive world of search engines by relaunching their Bing It On Challenge.

Originally debuted in September 2012, the Bing It On Challenge asks internet users to directly compare the search experience on Google to the one on Bing. Microsoft says that the Bing It On Challenge has been accepted by almost 25 million people so far. If you haven't already, now might be a good time to give it a shot.

What is the Bing It On Challenge?

To be honest, it's no different than it was last September. Users are asked to enter five different searches and decide whether they prefer the SERP (search engine results page) on the left or on the right. At the end of the "challenge," you're told whether you preferred Google's or Bing's results.

So why is Microsoft relaunching a challenge that hasn't really changed at all since its debut? The answer is that while the challenge is largely the same, what Bing has to offer is different. Users will now be treated to some of Bing's latest features when comparing the SERPs, including new daily homepages, instant on-site translation and rollover video preview, all touted as exclusive features that will make your search life easier.

The Results So Far

Bing has already found quite a bit of success with their previous iteration of the Challenge, another probable reason why they're relaunching the campaign. According to an independent study paid for by Microsoft, people who've taken the Challenge so far have preferred Bing's results over Googles by a two-to-one ratio. Some hardcore Googlers have questioned the results, pointing to anecdotal examples of "them and everyone they know" preferring the Big G. But is that simply due to the internet's ongoing perception that Google simply can't be beat?

There's no question that Google dominates search, and with such an unrelenting force in the market, shifts in dominance will happen slowly. Microsoft is hoping that the relaunch of the Bing It On Challenge, along with a new wave of TV advertising informing people about it, will help to shift the dynamic.

Did you take the Bing It On Challenge, and if so, did you prefer Bing's results over Google's? Let us know in the comments below.